Vol.
31 No. 3 MARCH 2002
IT’S TIME TO
PREPARE
FOR 2003
LEGISLATIVE SESSION!
(Believe it or not…)
It’s hard to believe, but Spring District Meetings are fast approaching and it is time to begin preparations for the 2003 Legislative Session.
District meetings are planned and
conducted by the districts.
Traditionally, combinations of the twelve districts have met together so
that there have been a total of five district meetings across the state. The chairs of the combining districts agree
on the host district, which identifies the location for the meeting and
arranges a luncheon.
April 8 Districts 8, 9, &12 in
Dillon
April 10 Districts 10 & 11 in Polson
April 15 Districts 4 & 5 in Chinook
April 17 Districts 1, 2, & 3 in Circle
April 19
Districts 6 & 7 in Lewistown
Chairs of each district contact
their member counties to ask for agenda items and work with the other chairs to
set the agenda for the meeting. One of
the agenda items for this spring is to consider resolutions for legislative
proposals and for MACo policies. County
Commissions are encouraged to invite all county officials to attend district
meetings. Any county official or staff
person may generate and present a resolution at district meetings.
Resolutions can and should originate at the county
level for presentation at district meetings.
Each resolution should be accompanied by a statement of the problem
being addressed and the proposed solution.
This should include statutory references and language revisions where
possible. A Model Resolution is on page
3.
The Resolutions Committee, working with the MACo staff, shall attempt to consolidate similar resolutions with the consent of the originating sponsor/s. The Committee will refer the resolution to a MACo committee for subsequent legislative action.
Sponsorship begins with the district meetings and
extends through the legislative session.
The legislative responsibilities of a sponsor include working with the
assigned MACo committee and the staff to prepare testimony for the sponsoring
legislator, supporting testimony from local officials during the hearing phases
of the bill and helping monitor the legislation’s progress.
Other affiliated elected official associations are
encouraged to participate in the resolutions process.
2002-2003 COST OF LIVING
The
cost-of-living adjustment factor effective July 1, 2002, is 2.8
percent. This percentage
represents 100 percent of the change in the annual index from 2000 to
2001.
MACo
will email a copy of the report from University of Montana Bureau of Business
and Economic Research to county commissions and county clerks and recorders.
MODEL RESOLUTION
TO ESTABLISH A
DISTRIBUTION OF DISTRICT COURT FUNDS
STATEMENT OF INTEREST
To distribute revenue equally
based
on the number of vehicles
under MCA 7-6-2352
to the extent that funds are
available after
expenses provided for in MCA
3-5-901
are funded, and the funding
of grants under
MCA 7-6-2352 have been funded.
WHEREAS, 7% of the
collections made from the 2% vehicle registration fee under MCA 61-3-504,
61-3-521 and 61-3-537 is deducted as a district court fee; and
WHEREAS, the district court
fee funds allowable expenses under 3-5-901; and
WHEREAS, to the extent that
funds are available after funding all allowable expenses under MCA 3-5-901, the
State is required to make grants to the governing body of a county for district
courts for assistance, as provided under MCA 7-6-2352; and
WHEREAS, there may be funds
remaining in the account after all allowable expenses and grants have been
funded, then such funds should be distributed directly to counties.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED
that the Montana Association of Counties will seek legislation to make further
distribution to counties, based upon the vehicle count in each and every county
after all allowable expenses and grants have been funded, by adding to MCA
7-6-2352 to read: “(8) The Supreme
Court administrator shall distribute funds remaining, after expenses provided
for in MCA 3-5-901 are funded, and after the distribution of state grants to
the governing body of a county for the district courts for assistance, as
provided in this section, to all counties, based upon collections of the fee
per count.” Current section (8) would
be renumbered to become section (9).
************************************************************************************************************************
FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
GORDON MORRIS
UPDATE: GPS-ITS Project
I want to follow up on the February Newsletter report on the
MDOT-MACo GPS-ITS Project. I am pleased
to report that, with the presentation in Kalispell by Skip Nyberg and a Feb. 15
meeting, significant progress has been made.
Let’s begin with the question that
has been in people’s minds, “Isn’t GPS-GIS data already collected by other
projects, such as enhanced 911, sufficient to be used in lieu of driving the
roads again?” From the perspective of the
State and the Federal Highway Administration, “No.” The “experts” agree that this is a necessary project and the data
must be collected. This will provide
the transportation base for all other data, already collected or being
collected. I again note that this is
taken at face value and if it is correct, then the roads must be driven.
MDOT and MACo have started to work
with counties in 12 MACo districts. In
each case an effort was made to find counties interested and willing to lead in
collecting the data within the district.
This requires each lead county to provide an employee, seasonal or
temporary, who would receive training in the requirements to gather the data
consistent with guidelines set for quality assurance and control. These
counties are referred to as the “data collecting counties.” There may be more than one county per
district and there is still some question in a couple of cases noted with “question marks” behind the county in the
list below. There is an assumed
cooperative effort between the data collecting county and the non-data
collecting counties. The non-data
collecting counties will contract to provide a driver for which they will be
reimbursed at an agreed upon rate. This
was more fully explained to the February Newsletter.
Since the midwinter conference MDOT
and MACo met and re-analyzed the earlier cost conclusions. However, the $11.10 per mile remains the
rate of reimbursement to the data collecting counties. The Department will provide MACo with a memo
to assure that, in the case of unanticipated expenses resulting in costs beyond
the scheduled reimbursement rate, the state would make an effort to
mitigate. Finally, and noteworthy on
the part of the Department, was their consideration to subsidize the per diem
costs for training. Counties sending an
employee to the training would be reimbursed for hotel and meal costs. (This does not include any salary
considerations during this training.)
Assuming approval by MACo Executive
Committee, the MOU would be signed once we have all the subcontracts in place
with the data collecting counties. I am
hoping to have all contracts on file by March 8th. The data
collecting counties have already received electronic copies for completion and
approval by the Board of County Commissioners.
This is eminently doable and counties will not be “out of
pocket.” Nor does this effort have to
take away from or compete with other county projects. I recommend that data collector counties hire temporary or
seasonal employees and that drivers be
found from the ranks of retired county road employees. A job description is being prepared for the
data collecting position and will be available shortly. The position requires
minimum education requirements and background.
For example, a high school senior with skill in computer procedures
would be adequate. So it is really wide open to a unique local consideration
and solution. And, “No, you cannot
employ your nephew!” This would be
nepotism.
I hope this further clarifies
the scope and methodology in regard to the project. I encourage you to call Harold or me with questions.
Data
Collector Counties
to be driven
District
1 Roosevelt County Roosevelt, Sheridan and
Daniels
Valley County (?)
Valley and Phillips
District 2 McCone
County McCone,
Dawson, Garfield, Prairie, Richland and Wibaux
District 3 Custer
County Custer,
Carter, Fallon, Powder River, Rosebud and Treasure
District 4 Hill County Hill, Blaine and Liberty
District 5
Glacier County Glacier, Chouteau, Pondera,
Teton and Toole
Cascade
County (?) Cascade
District 6 Fergus County Fergus, Golden Valley, Judith Basin,
Musselshell, Petroleum
and Wheatland
District 7
Stillwater County
Stillwater, Big Horn,
Carbon and Sweet Grass
Yellowstone County (?) Yellowstone
District 8 Lewis & Clark County (?) Lewis & Clark, Jefferson and
Broadwater
District 9 Lewis & Clark County (?) Gallatin, Meagher and Park
Park County (?) Park, Meagher and Gallatin
District 10 Sanders County (?)
Sanders, Flathead, Lake and Lincoln
District 11 Missoula County Missoula, Mineral and Ravalli
District 12 Beaverhead County Beaverhead,
Anaconda-Deer Lodge, Granite, Madison, Powell
and Butte-Silver Bow
Board of Directors
Member
JUSTICE OF THE
PEACE REPRESENTATIVE
GARY OLSEN
Justice of the Peace
Broadwater County
Elected 1998
Prior
Occupation Retired school teacher /
administrator / guidance counselor
Favorite Part of the Job The
variety-you never know what will come through the door next.
Least Favorite Part Dealing with attorneys and
endless motions; seeing former students in court!!!
Personal Family: wife of 32 years, 1 son, 1 daughter, 4
grandchildren; for fun, plays with grandchildren and attends
sporting events
Motto “Live, love, laugh and smile
lots each and every day.”
MIDWINTER
CONFERENCE
(A variety of photographs of
attendees and speakers are available in the hardcopy version.)
Representatives
from 48 of the 55 MACo member counties journeyed to Kalispell. The wide variety of workshops, including
those centered around county security and response to emergencies, informed and
advised the officials who attended.
“Best conference we’ve had—thoroughly enjoyed all of the
sessions—including DES for the first time!” wrote one evaluator.
The
opening sessions focused on county security issues. Highly rated programs included computer security by David
Wojciechowski, Flathead County, and bio-terrorism by Dr. Todd Damrow, State
Epidemiologist. Dr. Damrow “opened our
eyes to a much larger world than anthrax…,” wrote one attendee. “...real basic info. on a real complex and
scary issue,” wrote another. However,
even though the computer security session was highly rated, one person wrote,
“Computers are for teenagers or people who understand them.”
Favorite
sessions on Friday included Kurt Alme, Department of Revenue Director, and
David Gibson, Business Officer for the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity. “It is important to have honest
communication between the State and county levels,” commented one person. Another noted, “While I may not share the
same political philosophy, Mr. Alme is believable and energetic. He is a straight shooter. I also admire Mr. Gibson’s energy. As we focus our energies, I am glad he is
where he is.” President Harmon
commented, “Regardless of your viewpoint of the Governor and her decisions, she
sure hit a home run with Mr. Alme.”
Two
main criticisms were mentioned repeatedly on the meeting evaluation forms. One was the distance to travel, perhaps
because it followed the Annual Conference in Glendive. Plentiful suggestions mentioned more central
locations for midwinter conferences.
The second area of concern was consistent throughout most
workshops. People want and use handouts
and miss them when there is nothing to refresh or emphasize what is being
learned.
The
MACo Conference Planning Committee will be meeting March 13 to discuss the
evaluations and ways to curtail the increasing length of the conference.
***************************************************************************************************************
NORTHCENTRAL MONTANA
BEGINS 10-YEAR EFFORT TO FIGHT POVERTY
Northwest
Area Foundation recently named Northcentral Montana a Venture Community. Northwest Area Foundation helps communities
reduce poverty in the eight states that the Great Northern Railroad
served. The foundation anticipates
distributing over $200 million in Montana, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, North
Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa over the next 10 years.
NEXT MEETING
for 11 COUNTIES
Fort Benton—Montana Ag. Center
(across from High School football field)
March 6
10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Low wages, high unemployment, and a decade-old drought plague the 11 county region. (Glacier, Toole, Liberty, Hill, Blaine, Phillips, Pondera, Chouteau, Teton, Cascade and Judith Basin Counties). Poverty rates range from 13% to 34% with the greatest among the area’s Indian nations (Blackfeet, Rocky Boy and Fort Belknap) and urban Indians. “Our reservation unemployment is as high as 70%,” said Caroline Brown, Director of Business Information Center at Fort Belknap Tribal College.
Foundation’s Unique
Philosophy
Six years ago
Northwest Area Foundation began years of strategic planning, community
discussions, individual interviews, and research on these northern tier
states. Several key messages emerged:
1. People
have lost confidence in attempts to find outside solutions to local problems.
2. Many people have lost hope that communities
can transform themselves.
3. When asked what might make a difference,
many people said their communities needed the resources—not just financial, but
also ideas, leadership, and coordination—to support their own efforts to
improve their future.
The Foundation’s mission and programs are
based on these conclusions. The Foundation believes positive and directed change
is possible, and hopes to share the results of their efforts.
Initially, the Foundation worked with
communities in Central Oregon and Minor County, South Dakota to write long term
plans. Late last Summer, four more areas were selected including Northcentral
Montana.
The relationship is straight forward. The
Foundation will assist the region with finances and expertise to write the
10-year plan. If it significantly
reduces poverty and meets the Foundation’s other criteria, the region will take
the next step with the Foundation and have their support in making the plan a
reality.
The Foundation acts independently when it
makes a Venture Community designation. In the Montana case, Foundation staff
interviewed community leaders throughout the region over a year ago. “I’m
impressed with the way the Northwest Area Foundation wants to build this
coalition from a community ground up perspective,” Blaine County Commissioner
Vic Miller said.
Northwest Area Foundation staff explained
the program to about two dozen individuals at a meeting in Havre on November
7th. The eclectic group included church representatives, bankers, county
commissioners, mayors, tribal leaders, economic development planners, human
service providers and community volunteers. “Our common link was our interest
in revitalizing the region by focusing on the least among us,” Cascade County
Commissioner Peggy Beltrone said.
The region’s first task was to agree on
an agency to manage the funding and choose two representatives. Bear Paw
Economic Development will be the region’s fiscal agent, with the funding
deposited in the Native American Bank in Browning. George Heavy Runner, Browning, and Luanne Belcourt, Rocky Boy,
will represent the region at training in St. Paul.
The mechanics of writing a plan for this large, diverse area is challenging. The region will take the Foundation’s direction on how to proceed after Heavy Runner and Belcourt are trained. The group reassembled in Browning for a February session to review the region’s economy and the existing social and economic services.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
April 2-5
Association of County Road Supervisors; Bllngs 8 MACo
Districts 8, 9 and 12; Dillon 10 MACo Districts 10 and 11; Polson 10-12 County
Superintendents of Schools; Lewistown 11 JPA
Workers’ Comp. Trustees; MACo Room 12 JPIA Property & Liability Renewal Meeting 15 MACo Districts 4 and 5; Chinook 17 MACo Districts 1, 2 and 3; Circle 19 MACo Districts 6 and 7; Lewistown 19 District
Court Council March 1-5 NACo Legislative
Conference, Washington DC 7 Montana
Geographic Information Council; TBA 7 Noxious
Weed Awareness; MACo Conf. Room, 9:00 am 11 MACo Finance/Budget Committee; 10:00 am 13 MACo Conference Planning Committee; 10:00 am 14 State
Revenue for Local Gov’ts; Capitol Room 137; 14
Political Practices-Lobbying Advisory Group; MACo; 9:00 15 District
Court Council 18 Local
Government Accounting Training; Billings 20 Local
Government Accounting Training; Glasgow 21 Local
Government Accounting Training; Miles City 21 Last Day to file as a candidate for office 21 Joint
Economic Development; Dept. Transportation; 10:00 26 Local
Government Accounting Training; Great Falls 27 Local
Government Accounting Training; Missoula 28 Local
Government Accounting Training; Butte
Suggestions for Local Drought Committees
Keys to Successful Local
Drought Responses
·
County Commissioners
officially appoint members of local drought committee, with committee chair who
is a local leader. Pull together county
government, extension service, state representatives, watershed groups, and
conservation districts to build political clout.
·
Involve schools and
students in water conservation education.
·
Engage local media to
disseminate timely information on drought.
Use PSAs to show what people can do to mitigate local drought
impacts. Develop water conservation
materials.
·
Contact MT Bureau of
Mines and Geology for groundwater information.
·
Hold a rural drought and
fire meeting in early summer for prevention and mitigation.
·
Implement Agri-Met
irrigation scheduling to save water and power.
Plan irrigation from reservoirs carefully and conserve early on in
season. Plant more cereal crops than
alfalfa to mitigate water shortages.
Apply early for DNRC’s low-interest loans to improve irrigation
efficiency.
·
Define and prepare
eligibility formulas for USDA assistance programs administered by the Farm
Services Agency. Local drought
committees can work with local FSA Office to assess moisture conditions for
data needed by local USDA food committees.
·
Soil moisture content is
a better indicator of drought conditions for agriculture than precipitation.
Spring Drought
Preparedness Conference for Local Drought Coordinators
● Invite from every county in Montana and pay
travel expenses through DNRC grant funding.
·
Hold the Conference in a
centralized location.
·
The Conference Agenda
should:
Demonstrate how to use the Montana Drought Web site
to find relevant information on ways to mitigate drought impacts, sources of drought assistance funding,
real-time data on drought impacts, etc.
Present mitigation information on drought
impacts in cities, towns and rural communities.
Review successful drought mitigation plans such as those
developed by watershed groups in the Jefferson, Big Hole and Blackfoot River
Basins.
The Governor’s Drought
Advisory Committee
· Work with Congress to open CRP lands early to provide
timely mitigation from forage shortages and prevent premature liquidation of
livestock.
·
Involve the Montana
Association of Counties as a channel to localities.
·
Find counseling for
psychological concerns caused by severe drought.
·
Encourage member
agencies to support watershed group efforts.
·
Have Office of Governor
keep visibility of drought issues high (PSAs).
·
Continue to work for
Montana’s interests in National Drought policy dialog.
·
Survey county drought committees
for good ideas.
● Post
income tax information and other helpful items on Internet site.
Attorney General
OPINIONS
Question:
Does the library board have the power to require the county
commissioners to levy five mills in support of the county library?
Held:
1. The county commissioners are generally
obligated to fund the library budget submitted by
the library board within the limits set by MCA 15-10-420.
2. The county has the power to enter an
interlocal agreement under which it could bind itself to fund the library
budget as submitted by the library board under MCA 22-1-309(1).
Requested by:
John T. Flynn,
Broadwater County Attorney
Question:
Does the two-year residency requirement of MCA
7-4-2104 (2) disqualify from standing for election a person who was transferred
into a county commission district by virtue of reapportionment conducted
pursuant to MCA 7-4-2102?
Held:
The two-year residency requirement contained in MCA
7-4-2104(2) does not disqualify from standing for election a person who was
transferred into a county commission district by virtue of reapportionment
conducted pursuant to MCA 7-4-2101, as long as the person has resided at the
same address, now in the new district, for the requisite two-year period.
Requested by:
Brant S. Light,
Cascade County Attorney
FIREFIGHTING GRANTS
U.S. Fire Administration encourages an
electronic application process at www.usfa.fema.gov/grants. Maximum grants of $750,000 will be awarded
in several categories: firefighting
equipment, vehicles, prevention programs, training (including fire department
EMS), and fitness/wellness. A 10% match
is required for departments serving fewer than 50,000 people; 30% match is
required when serving over 50,000.
Applications will be accepted until March 31, with rankings held in
April and awards announced mid-May. For
information phone toll free 866-274-1960 or email usfagrants@fema.gov .
PREPAREDNESS EQUIPMENT GRANTS
The State of Montana
has a total of $883,000 for preparedness equipment grants. Requests for applications are due by April
1. The complete grant application is to
be submitted by June 1 and will be accepted only from Local Emergency Planning
Committees. Awards will be for 1)
personal protective equipment, 2) chemical, biological or radiological
detection equipment, 3) decontamination equipment or 4) communications equipment. The awards will be announced August 1. More information is available from Sheri
Medow Smith at 841-3969 or sheris@state.mt.us.
MacKAY APPOINTED U.S. MARSHALL
Dwight
MacKay, former Yellowstone County Commissioner, is Montana’s new U.S. Marshal. Since leaving the County Commission, MacKay
has been serving as State Director for US Senator Conrad Burns. Previous to his County Commission service,
MacKay spent ten years in law enforcement.
The U.S. Marshal’s office in Billings employs 19 deputies
and staff and has 36 court security officers under contract. The major duties are to provide security for
federal judges, to transport federal prisoners and to assist in apprehending
federal fugitives
SHERIDAN COUNTY SURPLUS AUCTION
APRIL 27 AT THE COUNTY SHOP (4246 HWY 16 S)
Contributors include the County, local schools, town,
fire departments
ITEMS INCLUDE:
SELECTION OF NEW PARTS FOR OLDER CATERPILLAR DOZERS
AND GRADERS
LIMITED SELECTION OF PARTS FOR CHAMPION, GALLEON,
INTERNATIONAL AND WABCO
For more information call Dellas Christensen, 765-1221
SAFETY RAY SEZ
BY Ray Barnicoat
MACo Risk Manager
Over
the past several months my risk management articles have addressed the
Hepatitis C epidemic. I have talked about the concerns the insurance industry
has had over this risk exposure and the rapid growth of this disease in our
society.
I
talked about the need for educating our employees who are at risk of being
exposed to this disease. In visiting with a number of county sheriffs and other
first responder groups, I have been pleased to hear that the training has been
going on with a good number of you.
Training
is still our best defense. This stuff can come at you in ways that would blow
your mind. The most disheartening example I want to share with you is a story
that was published in the Helena Independent Record on Friday, October 12,
2001. The story tells about a grade school teacher in a public school in
southeastern Montana who was being charged with exposing five 2nd-grade
students to Hepatitis C Virus during a demonstration of blood drawing.
The
55-year-old substitute teacher pricked the fingers of students with the same
needle he used to puncture his own finger only moments earlier. According to court
documents, the teacher knew that he was infected with the liver disease, knew
it was contagious, knew it was spread by contact with blood and knew the virus
could cause serious health problems, including death.
The
chances of infection from needle sticks are slim, according to Jim Murphy,
health specialist with the Department of Public Health and Human Services. This
may be good news but I think we always have to remain mindful that the
potential for infection is always there. The only way this risk can be properly
managed is through education and the practice of good universal precautions.
You will never know for sure where or how you may become exposed.
*****************************************************************************************************************************************************
2001-02 FOREST RESERVE
RECEIPTS
|
ANACONDA-DEER LODGE |
$
43,706 |
|
BEAVERHEAD |
205,550 |
|
BROADWATER |
22,691 |
|
BUTTE-SILVER BOW |
63,075 |
|
CARBON |
50,703 |
|
CARTER |
13,690 |
|
CASCADE |
47,052 |
|
CHOUTEAU |
8,112 |
|
FERGUS |
25,047 |
|
FLATHEAD |
1,502,228 |
|
GALLATIN |
109,518 |
|
GLACIER |
7,504 |
|
GOLDEN VALLEY |
6,287 |
|
GRANITE |
410,187 |
|
JEFFERSON |
180,604 |
|
JUDITH BASIN |
78,285 |
|
LAKE |
119,862 |
|
LEWIS AND CLARK |
422,863 |
|
LINCOLN |
5,664,639 |
|
MADISON |
141,563 |
|
MEAGHER |
133,754 |
|
MINEREAL |
717,143 |
|
MISSOULA |
704,873 |
|
PARK |
145,112 |
|
PONDERA |
27,380 |
|
POWDER RIVER |
46,442 |
|
POWELL |
456,225 |
|
RAVALLI |
307,199 |
|
ROSEBUD |
13,060 |
|
SANDERS |
1,629,594 |
|
STILLWATER |
28,495 |
|
SWEET GRASS |
49,283 |
|
TETON |
61,858 |
|
WHEATLAND |
16,732 |
LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES
SYSTEMS PROGRAM
GASB 34 Seminars
Local Government Services
Bureau, in the Division of Administrative Financial Services of Department of
Administration, provides technical assistance in the areas of budgeting,
accounting and financial reporting for local governments. This service continues to be provided at no
charge as our program is fully funded by State general fund
appropriations. Included in our
services are training seminars with a wide variety of accounting topics of
interest to local government finance and administrative personnel.
Governmental
Accounting Standards Board (GASB) has issued Statement No. 34, which
significantly changes the way in which governments report their financial
activity. We have made a commitment to
provide sufficient training to assist you in implementing the provisions of the
statement within the timelines defined by the GASB. We are treating all counties, cities and towns in Montana phase 2
governments, which means that we have targeted FY June 30, 2003, as the first
year of reporting under the new reporting model defined in GASB #34. Because of the comprehensive nature of GASB
#34, it is not only a concern for finance/administrative personnel, but also
for members of the governing body as well.
Consequently, we have made plans to
conduct training seminars covering specific GASB #34 topics over the 18-month
period from January 1, 2002 to June 30, 2003.
The specific dates and locations have not been finalized. We will notify you when they are. The topics to be covered and the general
dates are:
Fixed
Assets/Infrastructure Assets/Depreciation
Major Fund
Determination/Revenue Classifications/Fiduciary Fund Realignment/FYE 2003 HB
#124 Budget Considerations* (*unrelated to GASB #34)
Modified
Accrual vs. Full Accrual Accounting/Cash Flow Reporting
Management
Discussion & Analysis (MD & A)
Report
Preparation/Required Supplementary Information
We have selected
six sites at which these seminars may be conducted—Billings, Glasgow, Miles
City, Butte, Missoula and Great Falls.
These sites are subject to change as a result of input from local
governments.
For more information, fax (406) 841-2910 or email mahughes@state.mt.us.
COUNTY RETIREMENT PROGRAM
RANKS FIRST
NACo’s
deferred compensation program, administered by Nationwide Retirement Solutions
(NRS), placed first among its competitors for its return on the fixed annuity option
offered to county employees.
The NACo program is the largest deferred
compensation program in the country for county employees.
The study which determined the rating was
conducted by Buck Consultants and released in January. The study has been performed every year
since 1989 and the NACo program has always come out on top. The NACo program is the only one in the
country that receives oversight and is advised by county participants. More than 380,000 county employees
participate.
Montana county employees are served by Randy Grow, who can be
reached at 800-627-1583 or online at
growr@nationwide.com .
**********************************************
Rural County Governance Center
The Rural County Governance Center was established in
July 2001 and was designed to provide rural public officials with information
on emerging and current issues facing rural communities.
NACo President Javier Gonzales initiated the Center to
increase the capacity of rural county elected officials to develop and sustain
vibrant rural communities.
The Center's activities this year will focus on developing a
virtual library containing model programs, information resources and funding
information. It will sponsor applied research and publish research reports of
vital interest. The Center will also conduct various conferences and workshops
on critical issues during the year.
These are on-line resources of the Rural County Governance
Center:
Rural County Governance Center
Virtual Library
Model Programs, Information,
and Funding Resources
Economic Development
Rural Health
Environmental Issues
Telecommunications
Transportation and Infrastructure
Research Reports
County Government Survey
This information can be
accessed at:
www.naco.org/programs/comm_dev/rural/index.cfm .